Top 5 tips and tricks for choosing the Right Scissor Lift for Your Project

Scissor lifts have become indispensable pieces of Powered Access for our customers across a variety of industries. Commonly used to reach new heights of working, they offer versatility, safety, and efficiency in reaching elevated workspaces. Whether you’re working in construction, shopfitting, warehousing, or any other industry requiring you to work at height, selecting the right scissor lift is crucial for a successful project.

In this guide, we’ll give you 5 top tips and tricks to help you choose the right scissor lift for your specific needs.

1. Assess Your Project Requirements:

Before diving and looking at what scissor lift options are available, it’s imperative to assess your project requirements thoroughly. Before choosing, please consider factors such as:

Height requirements
You will need to determine the maximum height you need your scissor lift to reach before hiring. If you order too small, you are not going to be able to work at the height you need.

Weight capacity
Make sure the weight of your workers, any tools being used, and materials will be manageable on the scissor lift model you choose to hire.

Terrain
You must also consider whether you’ll be working indoors or outdoors, or even on rough terrain because this will influence the type of scissor lift required massively.

Working environment
Before hiring, please take note of any obstacles, narrow spaces, or specific working conditions that may impact the choice of scissor lift.

2. Understand Different Types of Scissor Lifts:

Scissor lifts arrive in various shapes and sizes to suit different projects across a variety of industries. Some of the common types you will find include:

Electric Scissor Lifts
Ideal for indoor use due to its quiet operation and zero emissions. Here at AWS Nationwide, our electric scissor lifts are built by our fully compliant and trusted supply partners with safety as a top priority. They arrive with advanced safety features such as non-slip platforms, emergency stop buttons, and guardrails to ensure the well-being of your workforce.

Diesel Scissor Lifts
Designed mainly for outdoor projects, our wide range of diesel scissor lifts feature robust tires and sturdy frames to handle rough and bumpy surfaces. From construction sites to groundworks and civil projects, these lifts excel in challenging environments, ensuring increased stability and manoeuvrability for your workforce.

Boom lift hire
Also known as Cherry Pickers throughout the industry, a boom lift is a hydraulically controlled machine with a standing platform, commonly used most by our shop fitting and interior customers. Usually much higher than scissor lift hire, AWS Nationwide can provide boom lift hire up to 85ft in total.

3.  Consider Safety Features:

Safety should always be a top priority when choosing the right scissor lift for your project. Before hiring the perfect scissor lift, please ensure that the models have the following:

Guardrails
Ensure the lift platform is surrounded by sturdy guardrails to prevent your workforce from being at risk.

Emergency stop buttons
Allow those operating the scissor lift to quickly stop operations in case of emergencies to prevent risk.

Non-slip platform
Ensure that any lift you hire has a non-slip surface to provide traction and stability for workers operating the lift.

4. Evaluate Maintenance and Service Requirements:

Regular maintenance of your powered access is imperative to keep your scissor lift operating smoothly and safely. Whilst AWS Nationwide offer maintenance services in tandem with hire, please ensure that before making a purchase, consider factors such as:

Service accessibility
Choose scissor lifts with easily accessible components to make them more aligned to routine maintenance and repairs.

Training
Ensure operators receive proper training on the safe use and maintenance of the scissor lift to prolong its lifespan and prevent accidents. Through our sister company, Webbs Training, we can offer IPAF courses to ensure your workforce is fully equipped and ready to use your hired scissor lift safely and responsibly.

5. Consider your budget!

While budget constraints are a reality for most projects we come across, it’s crucial not to compromise on quality and safety just to cut costs. Consider the following when it comes to cost factors:

Operating costs
Evaluate factors such as fuel consumption, electricity usage, and maintenance expenses to estimate long-term operating costs against your project.

To summarise…

Choosing the right scissor lift for your project is something you need to carefully consider before committing to a hire period, whether it is project requirements, safety features, maintenance needs, or budget constraints, AWS Nationwide is here to advise you.

By following these 5 tips and tricks, we assure you that you can confidently select the perfect scissor lift to enhance the productivity, safety, and efficiency of your project.